Axle drive for generators



May 30, 1939.

AxLE DRIVE ron Gnnsnlvrons sheets-sheet 1 Filed Oct.' 16. 1935 ff d@ 4@ May 30, 1939. C- W SPICER 2,160,445

AXLE DRIZYE FOR' GENEATOR'S Filed oct. 1e, 19:55 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1939 UNITED STATES vIPATi-:NTl opl-*FICE Spicer Manufacturin g Corporation, Toledo,

Ohio, a corporation of Virginia Application October 16, 1935, Serial No. 45,353

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to means for frictionally and resiliently establishing a driving connection between a pair of concentrically. related surfaces such, for example, as a shaft and arsurroundingl sleeve; and the invention is particularly concerned with the provision of a connecting means that can be quickly assembled to establish a driving connection between an outer member or sleeve and any one oia number of inner 10 members or shafts oi approximately the same diameter. y

' The invention is especially concerned with generator drives of the type wherein a gear casing surrounds a rail car axle and contains gear- 1I ing to be driven by rotation of the axle to thereby drive a propeller shaft and operate the generator. When rough turned, standard axles for rail cars vary as much as one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, and forged standard axles may vvary as much as one-eighth inch in diameter. Moreover, these axles are usually formed so that they taper inwardly toward the center to permit them to partake of a substantial deflection during operation to thus prevent axle failure.

It is' a primary object of the present invention to devise an improved connecting means for quickly and conveniently establishing an efficient drive between an axle, regardless of its variation in diameter and taper, and a surrounding driven member or unit formed to a predetermined standard size. Even though som'e of the parts surrounding the axle such as the ring gear and the anti-friction bearing races may be of one-piece construction, this primary object is to be carried out-'without the need for accurately machining or polishing the axle-and without4 performing any altering operation on the surrounding unit.

-The foregoing object was broadly contemplated 40 in my copending application Serial No. 529,141, filed April 10, 1931 and later issued as Patent No. 2,026,076 on December 3l, 1935. In that application there was disclosed a one-piece sleeve'surrounding the central part of, a tapered standard axle and driven by the latter through the provision of rubber bushings jammed endwise into the spaces between the ends of the sleeve and the adjacent portions of the axle. The rubber bushings were one-piece in form except Vfor being slit diametrically, and were forced endwise to cause a radial thickening or expansion by means of spanner nuts threaded on the ends of .the sleeve and having inwardly extending flanges for transmitting force` laxially to the outer ends of the bushings. It has been found that such a (Cl. 10S-131) construction affords very good results, but that there are some difliculties of assembly and in the application and maintenance of desired engagement pressures between the rubber bushings and the adjacent axle and sleeve surfaces with which they are engaged.

Accordingly, it is a specific `and major object of this invention to provide improvements in the determined compressive forces axially of the bushing. To facilitate assembly, and to cause an equalization ofl compressive forces or pressures at the opposite ends of the sleeve which surrounds the axle, the bolts or rods preferably are constructed to extend from one end of the sleeve to the other and thus pass through both of the rubber bushings.

In all constructions where rubber is utilized and permanently held in distortion or deforrnation, the rubber material will take a permanent set and lose some of its resiliency, and after a time only a small loosening. of the parts will completely release the rubber from any tight or binding surface engagement. YIt is undesirable to have to make frequent adjustments, particularly in axle generator drives and like devices and accordingly it is another major object of the present invention to solve this problemby the introduction of metal spring devices which constantly urge the rubber material into'- deformation. This invention further contemplates the use of coil springsv or the like of such pre-selected design that known form of coil springs surrounding at least 'one end v of the set of through bolts and placed under compression by the nuts on the bolts.

'- A further objectof the present invention is to provide rubber bodies which can be readily in- `,.serted to substantially ll the spaces allocated to fi-:them so that thereafter, when deforming pressure is applied, deformation takes place in the nayattire of a substantially pure hydraulic 'action- "f that is, there is substantially no flow of rubber during the insertion of the elements, the deformation taking place for the desired purpose after the insertion has been made. For example, in an axle generator drive, the axle may vary in diameter and may also have a taper, and rubber bush ings of substantially uniform thickness will sometimes have to be distorted to a considerable extent while they are being placed in position and before the time arrives for thernA to be compressed endwise and thickened into surface engagement with the axle and surrounding sleeve. This not only distorts the rubber non-uniformly but creates such a resistance that it is diflicult to tell Just when the predetermined surface engagement has. been attained for establishing a drive between the axle and the surrounding sleeve. By this invention it is proposed to provide multi-part bushings wherein. the parts are concentrically related and of wedge or cone shape so that they can be placed in position -to substantially fill their assigned spaces without any appreciable distortion.Y Thereafter anyapplied endwise pressure is used valmost wholly to obtain surface engagement of the inner and outer surfaces of the bushing and the adjacent surfaces of the axle and sleeve.

A multi-part rubber bushing of the character above described has the further advantage that after assembly it permits an easier and more uniform iiow of material than will a bushing that is not slit longitudinally. Preferably the inner wedges or rings of the concentric element which make up the rubber bushings are inserted so that their thicker ends will be adjacent the smaller part of the tapered axle, when the invention is applied to an axle generator drive, whereby the thinner or more flexible parts of the bushing will be disposed on an adjacent section of the axle that is of larger diameter. This is particularly advantageous where the bushings are made of standard construction'for use on either cylindrical or tapered axles, for when thus used on a tapered axle the inner part of the 5o bushing, which has a cylindrical inner surface can more readily be fitted to the tapered surface of the axle. 'I'he inner or thicker end of the bushing part is placed in engagement with the v axle in a locusof small diameter `and the thinner end of the inner bushing part can be readily exed outwardly or iiared to conformto the inner surface of a larger locus of the'tapered portion of the axle.

Where multi-part bushings are utilized as ao above discussed, and rods or bolts are utilized to compress them endwise it is preferable-to form lateral slots or grooves in the component parts of the bushing to facilitate assembly and simultaneously produce spaces in the rubber bushings e5 which will provide recesses into which some of the rubber material may iiow under deformation. This is important because rubber is incompressible and therefore has no cushioning action unless it can flow. As will be more fully 70 pointed out, laterally formed grooves for recep- .tion of the bolts produce empty spaces at opposite ends of the bushings because of the wedge shape of the component parts thereof, and these spaces augment the'cushioning action which the 7g rubber has upon the driven unit with respect to the axle. It is, of course, an object of this v invention to afford such cushioning action..

. against shock loads; and also to cushion against sudden changes in torque load.

This invention also contemplates an improved 5 torque rod construction for connection between the gear casingand the frame to prevent rotation of the casing. It is an object ofthe invention to devise a torque connection that is of long life and that requires infrequent attention, and 10 that may be made standard for reception of torque arms of various sizes. l

- The foregoing and further objects of the present invention will fully appear from a. study of the following detailed description, when taken l5 in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view taken substantially centrally and horizontally through a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Figure 1. Y

Figure 3I is an elevational view, with parts in section, of the device of Figure 1 as seen when 26 looking toward the right side in Figure 1 of the drawings'.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on two diii'erent planes as indicated' by the irregular line 4-4 in Figure l. 4 30 Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a slightlymodified form of the means fory zusing endwise compression of the rubber bushgs. I

With continued reference to the drawings and 35 with. particular reference for the moment to Figures 1 and 3, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an axle I0 havingtapered surfaces I l surrounded by a one-piece sleeve or quill i2, in driving connection with 40 the latter; a housing assembly I3 in which the l.quill is rotatably mounted; and a set of gearing disposed within the'housingassembly and driven by the quill. -The means for mounting the quill upn the axle and for drivingly connecting it 45 therewith comprises the more important subject matter of the present invention and will be fully described later.

'I'he casing proper is of two part construction, the parts havingmating flanges Il which may 5o be bolted together to form a housing. Within this housing there is provided a bevel gear I5 in mesh with a pinion if, the gear being formed in one piece and secured to the quill, and the pinion being carried by a power take-oil' shaft 55 and coupling assembly I1 that is adapted to transmit power to a generator or the like. 'I'he ends of the quill are journaled in the casing assembly by means of anti-friction bearings |I,`

Athe races of which are of one-piece construction,

and these bearings are retained and sealed by a pair of retaining and sealing assemblies 20.

For the purpose of preventing driving torque reactions from rotating the casing assembly relative to the quill, a structure is provided compris- 66 ing a torque arm 2l, having a ball end 22 for universal connection with the rail car truck frame and having a connection with the housing assembly through a joint designed to permit lateral or axial movement of the housing assembly 70 while preventing rotation thereof. This joint comprisesan integral extension 2l on the housing having a substantially vertical bore which receives a hardened and ground pin 24 the ends 0f which project beyond the extension into a pair 75 that are press fitted into a pair of carrier cups' 26. 'I'hese bearing carriers or cups 2l are separable parts of a yoke construction in that they have arms 21 which extend toward each other and overlap the adjacent end of the torque arm 25|,l towhich they are securely fastened by bolt assemblies 28.; A pin 30 locks the hardened and ground pivot pin 24 against both rotational and axial movement with respect to the extension 23. 'I'he large pin 24 thus takes end thrust in addition to serving as a pivot.

The pivotal joint just described is lubricated by means of external fittings 3| which, by way of passages 32, communicate with central holes 33 that are formed in the ends of the large pin 2 4, lubricant in this way being provided to the end surfaces of the pin where they ride in the cupshaped bearings 25. Except for a cork or felt washer 34 provided at the inner side of each bearing carrier to prevent access of extraneous matter, this-pivotal joint is of all-metal construction and the metal parts completely seal the joint. y

This joint has the further advantage that it may be made up of standard parts for use in various arrangements, it being necessary to change only the torque arm itself to obtain torque transmitting devices of various sizes or shapes.

Referring to Figures A1 and 2, it will be observed that the one-piece quill is of materially larger diameter than the axle so that regardless of taper and regardless of variations in axle diameter the quill can be positioned centrally of the axle by sliding it over one vend into location. If'the device is to 'be applied to a tapered axle, the outer ends of the quill preferably lhave their inner surfaces tapered as at 35 to correspond withy the tapered portions of the axle which they surround, the taper terminating adjacent a pairof annular shoulders 36 on the inside of the central portion of the quill. If the axle is straight or cylindrical the inner surfaces of the quill will be similarly straight or cylindrical in shape. Against the outer side of each of these shoulders there is disposed a split annular metal ring 31 for the purpose of forming an abutment for the'inner end vor a rubber bushing assembly in a manner hereinafter described.

The rubber bushing assemblies just referred to are designed to substantially fill the spaces between the axle and the surrounding portions of the quill, and to be suiiiciently compressed endwise to cause them to thicken or expand and establish drive transmittingV engagement withsaid surfaces. Each bushing assembly is split longitudinally, as seen in Figure l, into two concentric ring parts 38 and 40 respectively and for convenient assembly the inner of the two parts may be segmentally split at two points and the outer part may be split at four points as illustrated in Figure 2. A

The inner and outer rings 38 and 40 preferably are preformed to shape, substantially wedge-like incross-section, so that when they are assembled as shown in Figure 1 their inclined or coned sur-l However, if a standard prod- 1 out difficulty in an inclinedspacearound a tapered axle portion and are made of a grade of rubber that is readily deformable tol properly fill the inclined space when endwise pressure is applied to the bushingsafter they have been placed in position. In each bushing assembly, as shown, the Aouter surface of the inner ring 38 has a series of longitudinal grooves running from end. to end, and the outer ring 40 has a corresponding series yof grooves in its inner surface. ,When the parts are assembled these grooves will be matched, as in Figure 2, to permit a seriesof through bolts or yrods 42 to extend therethrough. In view of the fact that these openings for the rods are formed from surface grooves instead of holes, there will naturally be a small space 43 in each groove that is not filled by the bolt 42. A number of these spaces will appear at various points throughout the 'bushing assembly where the bolts vpass through the thicker ends of the grooved rings 38 and 40. The spaces have advantages that will be later pointed out.

' Although it is unnecessary that the bolts 42 holes provided in the abutment rings 31, as shown;`

and at each of its ends each bolt extends through a split annular clamping ring .44 and an annular reactance ring 45. and carries a compression spring 46 between said rings 4 and 45. At its extremities each bolt is threaded to receive nuts 61.

' As in the case of the rings 31, the holes in the steel rings 44 and 45 are sufliciently large to permit the bolts 42 to pass therethrough with slight clearance, whereby upon tightening the nuts 41, the rings will be moved inwardly toward the rubber bushings and, through springs 46, cause the compressive forces to be transmitted to the bushings by way of the rings 4ll. The latter rings construction if desired, but it is only necessary for facilitating assembly to split each of them at one point, as for example at 48 on ring 31 in Figure 1, and at 50 on ring 44 in Figure if Each.

ring 44 also has a series of tapped holes 5I into which bolts may be threaded for `the purpose of readily withdrawing this ring and the outer rubber, ring 40 that is vulcanized thereto as aforestated, Otherwise it would be verydiicult to remove the rubber bushings if it were desired to dismount the entire unit or tov replace the rubber bushings.

In setting up the apparatus for operation the one-piece quill i2 and all of the parts which surround the same may be pre-assembled as a unit on the bench in the shop. This pre-assembled unit is brought tothe point where it is to be applied to the axle, and-can be readily slid over the end of the axle to the position illus-V The steel abutment rings` trated in Figure 1. 31 are then-pushed into position endwise of the sleeve and the through bolts are preferably simultaneously, or immediately thereafter, inserted so f that both members l1 will be properly positioned prior to addition of the members n. 'Ihereafter g the segments of the inner two-part rubber rings are applied to the axles with their large ends engaging' rings I1 vand with their longitudinal grooves receiving the ends of the through bolts. Thereupon the outer rubber rings Il and the lo follower rings Il are pushed into position, the

longitudinal grooves of the rubber fitting the through bolts and the apertures of the ."Jllower rings receiving the ends of the through bolts. Due to the manner of forming the passageways through the rubber bushing fer the through bolts,

the two Vrings oi' each rubber bushing can be4 and due to the conicity of the matching surfaces of the two rings which form each rubber bushing.

/concentrically arranged to substantially fill the space designed to receive them, without the app lication o f .any large endwise forces that would to distort and deform the rubber material and that might give a mechanic the erroneous impression that he had applied sumcient coin- 25 pressive force to establish a driving connection between the axle and the surrounding'sleeve.

, With the parts located as above explained, and the springs Il, rings 4l and nuts 41 applied to the ends ofthe through bolts, the rubber 30 bushings will be caused to immediately thicken radially upon screwing the nuts 41 down far enough to place the'springs under compression. Each spring Il is relatively heavy and preferably designed so that upon suiiicient tightening to 35 bring each convolution substantially into engagement with the next adjacent convolution, it will be indicated to the mechanic that the nut I1 has been tightened suillciently to do its part in establishing proper driving engagement between 40, the axle, the sleeve and the respective inner and outer surfaces ofthe rubber bushings. Moreover, in view of the fact that a series of individual tightening means is utilized the mechanic will be able to tell by the feel that he has drawn the 45 nut up sufficiently to obtain a drive.

During the tightening operation the rubber will flow uniformly throughout the entire length of each bushing, due to the manner in`which the bushing parts were properly pre-fitted into the space designed to receive them and also due to the multi-part construction of the bushing.

` As the bushings cannot expand radially to any great extent because of the restrictions imposed by the adjacent surfaces of the axle and the sleeve, some space must be provided to permit the flow of rubber if it is desired that this incompressible material be not so closely confined as to form substantially rigid and non-elastic bushings. It is desired to permit some such flow,

,o for in addition Vto designing the bushings as a convenient means for readily andY accurately iitting the drive unit to axles that may be tapered or may vary slightly in diameter, it is an object of this invention to utilize the bushings to act elastically in shear to transmit torque and also to cushion the axle against shock with respect -to the relatively heavy drive mechanism that surrounds it. 'Moreover, when the axle is tapered to permit it to deflect slightly in operation to 70 prevent failure, the rubber bodies must not be so tightly confined as to tend to prevent this flexure. Suilicient room for the desired or necessary flow is' provided by the multiplicity of small spaces within the grooves of the rubber bushings and 1g by the annular clearance spaces which are afforded adjacent the rings 31 and 4l at the ends of the bushings.

To complete the assembly, locking wires 52 are passed through the ends of the through bolts to keep the nuts I1 in position, and end covers each comprising complemental parts 53, secured together by bolt and nut assemblies 54, are clamped upon the axle adjacent the ends of the quill I2. These covers servettvo purposes.` 4They v close the ends of the sleeve and to this end have sealing means 55 cooperating with the sealing assemblies of the housing assembly; They also serve to provide a positive drive between the axle and the quill" |-2 as a.l safety feature in case the rubber should fail or in case of the application of violent torque changes tending to stretch the rubber beyond its intended normal degree of elasticity in shear.

The positive drive just mentioned lis obtained by providing in each of the end covers a pair of'j'20 diametrically opposite shoulders 56, and at the corresponding end of the quill I2 providing a pair of slots 51 designed to receive theshoulders 56 (see Figures 1 and 4). I'he slots 51 are about one-quarter inch wider-than the shoulders 56, andthe covers are "clamped in position on the axles so that there will be a .one-eighth inch normally this positive drive means is inactive and can not interfere with the proper and intended elastic functioning of the rubber.

In the modified form fragmentarily shown in Figure 5, a ring 310, corresponding to ring 31 of Figure 1, is provided with tapped holes 60, and insteadof through bolts a series of short bolts or clearance on eachl side of each shoulder, so that studs 420 are used and threaded into these tapped y holes. 'Ihe only difference, therefore, between this and the preferred form is that here the expansible packing and cushioning assembly at each end of the quill i2 is individually set up and adjusted entirely independently of that at the other end of the sleeve. l

It will readily. be appreciated that the form illustrated in Figure 1 may be modified to embody a single set of springs disposed at one end only of the set of through bolts.

Numerous changes and variations may be made 4that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

'I'he invention may be embodied ,in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description,

and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with an axle, a quill surrounding said axle to form therewith an annular space;

a plurality of axially spaced resilient bushingsA sov said axle to form therewith an annular space; a plurality of axially spaced resilient bushings disposed within said space, each of said bushings comprising concentrically arranged rings having frusto-conical faces placed in surface engagement with each other; and means for compressing said bushings to thicken them into driving surface engagement with the axle and the quill; said compressing means including metal' spring means reacting to exert substantially constant compressive force axially of the bushing assembly to cause said rings to slide axially of each other and to constantly urge said bushings into driving engagement .with the axle and the quill.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with an axle, a quill surrounding said axle to form therewith an annular space; a yplurality of axially spaced resilient bushings disposed within said space; said bushings having grooved passageways formed transversely thereof from end to end; and means for compressing saidv bushings endwise to deform them into driving engagement with the axle and the quill; said means comprising a plurality of elongated eleing deformation, and devices cooperating with said velongated elements to clamp the rubber bushings in position.

4. In sub-combination, a drive structure comprising a pair of rotatable elements designed to be coupled together for synchronous rotation, said elements having portions providing spaced substantially concentric surfaces, and means for flexibly intercoupling said portions, said means comprising a pair of rubber wedges arranged with their inclined surfaces in matched abutment and with their opposite surfaces adjacent said concentric surfaces, and means for endwise compressing of said wedges to deform them into tight frictional contact with each other and with said concentric surfaces.-

5. In the apparatus defined in claim 4, said endwise compressing means including metal spring means constantly urging said rubberI wedges into deformation with substantially predetermined uniform force.

6. In the apparatus deilned in claim 4, said rounding one of said members having an internal 'I surface of suillcient diameter to form with an external surface of the surrounded member an annular clearance space, and means disposed within said clearance space to intercouple said.

members comprising pairs of complementa! wedge-shaped elements disposed axially of the assembly and having matched contacting surfaces overlapping each other, said contacting surfaces ,having their inclinations reversed and running axially of the assembly, said wedge-shaped elements of each pair further having surfaces matching said external and internal surfaces of the aforementioned concentric rotatable members, and means v`i'or causing said complemental wedge-shaped elements of each pair to move axially but in opposite directions to thereby increase the radial thickness of the pair and intercouple said concentric members. l

8. In an apparatus of the character described.'

in combination with an axle, a quill surrounding said axle, said quill and axle adapted to be coupled together fo'r synchronous rotation, means for flexibly and drivingly intercoupling said quill ,1, and axle comprising a plurality of resilient bushings adjacent the opposite ends of said quill, each bushing comprising a, plurality of resilient members having cooperating inner and outer abuttingV surfaces, and means for endwise compressing of said members to force them into tight 'frictional contact with each other on said surfaces and to thicken them radially to positively couple said quill and axle together.

9. In the apparatus defined in claim 8, said endwise compressing means including a plurality of rods extending through said members.

CLARENCE W. SPICER. 

